Change and uncertainty
We found that the lockdown and wider pandemic brought a lot of change and uncertainty for teenagers, both in daily life and in thinking about their futures.
This kind of unpredictability can be frightening and can have negative impacts on our wellbeing.
Education staff could help to give teenagers a feeling of control by, for example, setting short-term, achievable goals, and help them to become more comfortable with uncertainty and the feelings it can bring.
Resources
The resources shown below provide tips and strategies for adapting to change, coping with uncertainties, and dealing with transitions (eg from online learning to in school).
- Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families has produced a booklet with advice on managing unexpected endings and transitions.
- Australia-based Teacher Magazine provides tips and advice to teachers on how they can help students transition back to school after the change to their learning through the pandemic.
- Australian mental health charity Beyond Blue has developed tips and strategies for schools around adapting to changes.
- BBC Teach back to school
- Stem4 has developed resources to support young people, including tips and strategies for adapting to change during the pandemic and coping with uncertainties around the future, including cancelled exams.
- Youngminds has created resources to support school communities in coping with the challenges and uncertainties presented by COVID-19.
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